Can a car battery thats the wrong size do damage?

[jman231994]

Hey guys,

Since this forum is the pit of all knowledge in the universe I was wondering if anybody out there knew if I could start getting problems by running a larger car battery than my car was originally intended to have.

I'm going to be eligible for my P's soon and I have my Grandma's Ford Telstar TX5t to fix and drive. I have a couple of batteries for it but they're all stuffed and I have the battery out of my dad's old Fairmont wagon. The wagon battery is a larger type but I can make a modified battery tray for it to fit.

Since the Telstar's engine is sounding a bit funny I'd rather not buy a new battery for it til I know it's gonna keep running. - If it dies I can try and fix the Fairmont's blown head gasket but it seems to be more than just a compression leak so thats a last resort thing.-

Anyway the proper battery is around 300cca and 45rc and the big one is around 500cca and 95rc. Anyone see any problems with excess current or anything?

 

[fowler]

as long as the volts are the same (they will be ) then it doesnt matter

the more CCAs it has the more "power" it has there by the bigger the motor it can turn over

i use a car battery on my buggy purely because in a half flat state the battery will start the engine without effott, we also use truck batterys in our landcruisers as the sea flattens them quickly

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I don't know about any theoretical issues, but I have been using larger than stock batteries for years without problems. I have also run dual batteries in parallel without problems. I think you're okay.

 

[jman231994]

AWESOME. Thanks guys, thats gonna save me quite a bit of money towards car rego

 

[anderkart]

as long as the volts are the same (they will be ) then it doesnt matter

the more CCAs it has the more "power" it has there by the bigger the motor it can turn over

i use a car battery on my buggy purely because in a half flat state the battery will start the engine without effott, we also use truck batterys in our landcruisers as the sea flattens them quickly

I don't know about any theoretical issues, but I have been using larger than stock batteries for years without problems. I have also run dual batteries in parallel without problems. I think you're okay.

Yes,
Its actual much better for your starter to have a battery with a higher CCA-rating. As the starter is cranking over the voltage will remain higher and that makes the starter work more efficiently, stay cooler, last longer and crank the engine over faster

 

[jman231994]

Yes,
Its actual much better for your starter to have a battery with a higher CCA-rating. As the starter is cranking over the voltage will remain higher and that makes the starter work more efficiently, stay cooler, last longer and crank the engine over faster

Thats good Thanks guys.....Always knew you were the pit of all knowledge in the universe haha

 

[jman231994]

Side note....Anyone have any do's and dont's for making my own battery tray? Where to brace the sides etc?

 

[anderkart]

What does your battery tray look like? Can ya post a pic of it with the battery removed?

Basically you just need to mod the tray into any type of flat surface with no sharp edges that would cut or damage the battery's case.

Then install the battery using a Universal Battery Hold down kit (like my top pic) to securely hold it in place.

Just make Absolutely sure the battery's + terminal will never, ever touch any metal parts of the car. Be sure to double-check that hood clearance too...


Most all auto part stores sell these kits, or you can make your own DIY hold down system. Just make sure its strong and will truly hold the battery in place while the car is going over big bumps and slaming on the brakes.

You'll find a lot more battery hold down pics/ideas in this google Image link: http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1T...&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1007&bih=649

You just need to drill a 8mm hole for those long J-bolts to hook into...
If necessary, you can bolt one side of the hold down to the fenderwell (or whatever) like this bottom pic.

 

[fowler]

a bit of ply wood for the bottom and fenceing wire to hold it down
i garuntee it will never fail

but u had better do it properly

 

[jman231994]

I'll try and get a pic up soon but no guarantees cause the school term starts tomorrow and I'll probably forget haha...Couldn't really modify the existing one to suit it cause its a pressed piece of place that wouldnt take kindly to bending haha.

Was thinking about just a rectangle of angle to semi snugly hold the base and some j bolts to a plate or make one of the brackets you showed me, doesn't look that hard.

I'll weld it all so it's nice and solid but even if it does ever brake the battery doesnt have far to move. One side is the side of the engine bay and the other is a fuse bracket thats quite solid. Millimetres below is a main chassis rail. So its mostly just to stop it jiggling around and earthing out the +

Hood clearance wont be an issue cause the battery is the same height as the old one. Just a bit fatter haha. So as long as the bracket is the same size as the old one its all good

Thanks for that, I started cutting some angle today but it's slow progress with a blunt hacksaw blade hahaha. So when i get the chance to rip out the grinder it will be done in a jiffy. I'll post some pics when it's done, even if it's just asking for some arc welding tips hahahahaha

Thanks guys

 

[jman231994]

a bit of ply wood for the bottom and fenceing wire to hold it down
i garuntee it will never fail

but u had better do it properly

Have you actually done that?

Ingenuity at it's best. Reminds me of a guy I saw the other day trimming his edges with an angle grinder taped to a wooden pole hahaha

 

[Cam]

a bit of ply wood for the bottom and fenceing wire to hold it down
i garuntee it will never fail

Baaa we did that to our paddock car, we jumped it and put the battery through the windscreen

Bungy cord, a little one works really well, and its legal! in nz..

 

[jman231994]

hahaha what happened to the bonnet?

 

[fowler]

Have you actually done that?

Ingenuity at it's best. Reminds me of a guy I saw the other day trimming his edges with an angle grinder taped to a wooden pole hahaha

mate u wouldnt want to know want we do with fencing wire

it is the most universale material fullstop

duct tape may as well be toilet paper

yes iv done that to most of our vehicals as the plastic clamps just dont last the vibration

 

[fowler]

hahaha what happened to the bonnet?

that was "removed" (rusted out) for better cooling ?

that would heave been the funniest thing to see

im cracking up at the image it creates

 

[Cam]

Yeah bonnet was bashed out majorley by the previous owner so we stripped it and yeah we broke the stock clamp - that one was funny we launched it a few metres in the air and then ran over it!

Then we made a makeshift number 8 wire one like fowler said, and as we came up to the jump it was really steep and that knocked the wire off, and when we launched it it flew backwards, cables and all through the front windscreen of the ford festiva and into my mates lap, sh!t it was funny!

then we gave up for the day because it cracked the dizzy cap as it flew backwards

 

[jman231994]

I love how if it hadnt have cracked you would have done it again with a shattered windscreen and battery in your lap hahahahahahaha

 

[sideways]

Haha I can beat wire, I bought a new battery for my paddock basher (a ride on mower battery!), there was no hold down strap thingy so I duct taped it in!

A few weeks later we did a HUGE (about 3 car lengths) jump, the duct tape broke and the battery fell onto the the belts, they chewed a hole in it and sprayed acid everywhere, now pretty much everything under the bonnet it rusty. :/

The current (old) battery is held in with cable ties!

The tail gate is taped closed too.

Gotta love paddock bashers!

 

[Cam]

haha awesome stuff, my mate had a datty 120y, and the battery slid across into the steel alternator fan, and sprayed acid everywhere haha same story, rust everywhere!

 

[anderkart]

When I was young and inexperienced, I ruined several perfectly good car batteries simply because i didn't bother to install a good/effective battery hold down.